Alain de Botton

I’m reading an interview with Alain de Botton (see here) in which he said something that I thought was strange and interesting:

Then [The Consolations of Philosophy] came out, and I was a complete idiot and what was I doing [said the American book critics]. The book sold in huge quantities. Critically, I was absolutely trashed in America. I wasn’t, particularly, anywhere else. But it seemed that I clearly hit on some taboo in a way, that to me, was utterly mysterious. What was the problem?

I wonder why; the book is a very accessible, but in no way banal, introduction to Western philosophers, told in the context of common problems, such as “I’m unpopular” or “I don’t have any money”. Interviewer Robert Birnbaum wondered whether the reason was that “the homegrown philosophy of the USA is pragmatism, which eschews 19th century models of philosophical systems?” But Alain de Botton thought it was because they perceived it as a “Philosophy for Dummies” (which, of course, exists). The funny thing is that his previous book, How Proust Can Change Your Life (also great) was well received by the US critics, and it’s written in pretty much the same style. So somehow, thinks de Botton, they felt he had crossed some line with Consolations; it worked with Proust, but not with the philosophers. But it is still strange. I wonder if there are any reviews online.

He’s got a new book out, The Art of Travel. Judging from his last two books, it should be great, too.